83 posts categorized "Preparedness"

November 27, 2013

When asked why they purchase counterfeit products, consumers say it is simply for the lure of the bargain. As eager shoppers wait to pounce on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales they need to be aware of the counterfeit Grinches who want to entice them with promised bargains of their own. But these bargains are often not worth it in the end. Counterfeit products threaten our health and safety with everything from faulty wiring in electronics to antifreeze and uric acid in perfumes and pharmaceuticals.

In a recent press release, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) report the market is flooded with counterfeit products being sold at stores, on street corners, and online. The most popular counterfeit products seized each year at this time include headphones, sports jerseys, personal care products, shoes, toys, luxury goods, cell phones and electronic accessories.

So how can you avoid purchasing counterfeit products and contributing to organized crime, gang activity, and other criminal activities? Follow these tips to make sure counterfeiters don’t steal your hard-earned money and holiday joy.

Be familiar with where you buy your merchandise. Shop with companies you know and trust. Check for background information if you plan to buy from a third party vendor, or a new or unfamiliar company.

Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.

Before surfing the Internet, secure your personal computers by updating your security software. Everyone’s computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam software, as well as a good firewall installed.

To avoid purchasing counterfeit products, carefully examine the products you want to buy for signs of missing information (manufacturing information, warranty, product codes, etc.), broken or missing safety seals, different or incomplete packaging, and subtle or obvious changes to a company logo.

Keep your personal information private and your password secure. Do not respond to requests to “verify” your password or credit card information unless you initiated the contact. Legitimate businesses will not contact you in this manner.

Don’t make copies of DVDs and give them out to your friends and relatives—even as gifts.

Don’t download products from file-sharing services if you’re not entitled to them.

Ask street vendors or discount stores that sell CDs and DVDs at bargain prices where they got the products and how they can sell them for such steeply discounted prices.

If we are going to reduce public demand for these counterfeit products and other forms of IP theft, we must sustain a coordinated response of prevention, education, and enforcement through both the public and private sectors. But the first step begins with the public. You have to Get Real. Don’t buy fakes.

November 13, 2013

Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 21 at 3 p.m., Eastern Time—and join us for a webinar to unveil a unique, new resource guide, Taking Action: An Advocate’s Guide to Assisting Victims of Financial Fraud. The FINRA Investor Education Foundation and the National Center for Victims of Crime collaborated to create this important guide that gives victim advocates a roadmap for how to respond in the wake of a financial crime.

The increasing incidence of financial fraud has underscored the importance of consistent and accurate advice to victims. More than 30 million Americans fall victim to financial fraud every year, losing an estimated $50 billion of measurable, direct costs. And these costs do not include the significant non-financial costs to victims, including lost time and psychological hardship, all of which compound the devastation caused by financial fraud.

How can we—a community of victim advocates, law enforcement, regulators and other community-serving organizations—provide tangible help to victims? By taking action and encouraging victims to do the same. Experts in the field are well aware that financial fraud goes largely underreported. One valuable contribution victim advocates can make to the cause of fighting financial fraud is to encourage victims to report the crime.

During next Thursday’s webinar, we will discuss strategies for addressing the major types of financial crime—including investment fraud, identity theft, mortgage and lending fraud, and mass-marketing scams. We will also highlight tools and resources you can use to assist victims of financial fraud in regaining their financial footing and addressing the emotional trauma they have suffered.

Taking Action: An Advocate’s Guide to Assisting Victims of Financial Fraud is available for download or ordering from within the Program and Outreach Toolkit section of the FINRA Foundation’s SaveandInvest.org Fraud Center.

Of course, the best scenario is one in which the fraud is altogether avoided. The FINRA Foundation’s Investor Protection Campaign seeks to safeguard investors from investment fraud, before the fraud occurs, by helping them:

Recognize they are vulnerable to investment fraud

Identify persuasion techniques

Reduce risky behaviors by asking questions and checking information

Investors should ask whether the person selling the investment and the investment itself are registered—and then check by verifying the answers with FINRA and the SEC. FINRA’s online BrokerCheck tool lets investors research the background of brokers and their firms, and the SEC’s EDGAR system is a gold source for company information. Visit the Fraud Center at SaveAndInvest.org for these and even more tools and information to help consumers spot and avoid investment fraud.

Learn how you can become a fraud fighter in your community. Join us for the Taking Action webinar on Thursday, November 21 at 3 p.m., Eastern Time. To register for the webinar click here and follow the prompts.

October 18, 2013

The National School Safety Center (NSSC), state governors and state
school superintendents sponsor America's Safe Schools Week, October 20-26,
2013. Originally established by NSSC in 1984, this observance is also actively
supported by local, state, and national public officials and professional
organizations.

NSSC's goal in this campaign is to motivate key education
and law enforcement policymakers, as well as students, parents, and community
residents to vigorously advocate for school safety. School safety includes
keeping campuses free of crime and violence, improving discipline, and
increasing student attendance. Schools that are safe and free from violence,
weapons, and drugs are necessary to ensure the well-being of all children and
the quality of their education.

The most important strategy for America’s Safe Schools Week
observance is a call to action and a reminder for all to place school safety on
the educational agenda. The following safety ideas can help you to take action
where you live:

Develop and regularly
update a school safety fact sheet for your district.

Create a school safety
advisory group.

Support America's Safe
Schools Week.

Develop and maintain a community
resource file of people known for their abilities to shape public opinion
and accomplish goals.

Build a public relations
team, starting with school employees.

Create a comprehensive
identity program for your district.

Publish a district
magazine or newsletter.

Through these activities, schools can improve campus climate
and discipline, as well as enlist participation from various groups to create
partnerships in this important effort. Educators who take active roles and
initiate positive programs—rather than just react when negative conditions arise—help
create successful schools.

For more in-depth
information on each of these steps, as well as additional guidance on working
with school safety stakeholders like school staff, parents, and law enforcement,
visit our comprehensive Safe
School Weeks site.

October 04, 2013

When
it comes to protecting your personal property, a home security system is a great
place to start. Over the last several
years these systems have become more reliable, more secure, and easier to use,
thanks to technology. Today the Internet,
smartphones, and mobile apps place security at your fingertips and deliver a
lot more value to homeowners than older systems. Here’s five things you should know when
choosing an interactive security system to protect your personal property.

Interactive – Today’s security
systems aren’t just about emergency alerting when there’s a break in. Interactive security systems keep you aware
of what’s happening at your home with real-time text or email alerts, even when
your system is disarmed. For example, you
can be alerted when your teenager arrives home from school, when a door or
window is left open, or if a drawer or cabinet containing valuables has been
opened. And
when an emergency happens, interactive security gives you a lot more options
too. Notifications to your smart phone
about a break-in can keep you informed and aware so that you don’t walk into a
bad situation. If you are at home when an
alarm sounds, two-way voice communications allow you to talk with a security
professional and share valuable information about what's happening.

Reliable – Today’s most
reliable systems use a dedicated cellular connection (just like your cell
phone) so it is not vulnerable to wire cuts or power outages. Some intruders may attempt to disable an
alarm system by smashing it with a hammer, but systems like Alarm.com have
patented technology to alert the authorities even if the panel gets smashed.

Easy to Use – Wireless systems
also make every aspect of owning them easier.
From installation to mobile apps, you’ll find that staying aware of
what’s happening at home and protecting your property is simple and
intuitive. Wireless video cameras and image sensors can
let you see what’s happening in your home at any time through your smart
phone or tablet.

Anywhere Access – We found that one of
the biggest challenges for earlier generations of home security systems was homeowners
forgetting to arm their system. Once they
left the house, they had no option for arming the system. Now, not only can you arm your system from
anywhere, but you can also lock the doors and close your garage too. Your system will even send you a helpful
arming reminder if it detects that your home is empty but the alarm hasn’t been
set. It’s so smart; it makes things
simple so that your home and valuables are always secure.

Most homes are busy places, with
family members and trusted people, like the baby sitter or a dog walker, coming
and going. The best systems allow you
to set up multiple users with each one having an individualized access code and
customized access settings. For example,
the dog walker’s code may only work for the hour each day when he or she is
expected. But you can receive a real-time alert if that code disables the alarm
at any other unapproved time.

A System that Grows with You – Investing in
technology can be daunting. It seems
that every year or two a hot new device comes along to replace the one we
already have. As our families grow and
change, parents come to live with us, and neighborhoods change, our needs to
protect and secure our property change too.
The best interactive security systems provide a range of services so
that you can get the right solution for your unique needs at any time.

For
more information about home safety and protecting your personal property, visit
www.ncpc.org.

Blog
contributed by Alarm.com. Visit www.Alarm.com
for more information about security systems.

July 15, 2013

Amidst of the
excitement and commotion that summer brings, we often forget to take
precautions when traveling. Before you leave for vacation, the National Crime
Prevention Council reminds you that crime doesn’t take a vacation. According to
the FBI’s latest National Crime Victimization Survey and
Uniform Crime Report, every 12 seconds a home is invaded resulting in 6,646
break-ins every day and over 3.5 million burglaries per year. To make your trip
enjoyable, NCPC has compiled summer travel safety tips.

Research Your Destination

Plan in advance; know where to go and how to get
around.

Only take the credit cards you absolutely need.

Don’t carry cash, carry traveler’s checks.

Before leaving make sure everyone in your party
knows where to meet in case of being separated, especially children.

Secure Your Home

Lock all windows and doors. Also, don’t forget
to lock the garage door.

Use variable automatic timers on a few lights to
give the impression that someone is home.

Ask the post office to hold your mail or ask a
trusted friend or neighbor to collect it while you are away.

Leave your contact information with a trusted
individual in case problems were to arise at home.

Make sure everyone in your party knows the
contact information of this individual in case someone is separated from your
party and cannot reach someone at the destination.

Confirm all hotel reservations before you leave

Traveling

Teach children to go out to play in groups.
Groups are less likely to be approached by strangers.

Set boundaries where kids can or cannot play.

Know where your kids will be at all times and
with whom they are playing.

Never leave your luggage unattended. It takes
only a moment for someone to snatch it up or confuse it for his/her own.

When traveling by car, lock your vehicle at all
times, especially at gas stations, rest areas, or other public facilities.

If Traveling Abroad

The FBI advises that
if you are traveling abroad it is important to only take documents that are
necessary and to leave at home copies of the ones you are taking with you. In
case documents are stolen, this would make it easier to replace them. They also
advise to report your lost or stolen passport immediately to the nearest U.S.
embassy or consulate.

In the hotel room

Never leave your room key unattended where it
could be picked up by a stranger, such as at a restaurant or pool.

Don’t leave rooms unlocked. Insist that everyone
carry his or her keys when outside the room.

Using Technology to Your Advantage

Even though one of
the cardinal rules of vacationing is to leave your cell phone at home, it may
come in handy when you find yourself lost, or in the case of an emergency.
There are several mobile apps designed to ensure safe and easy travels such as
different GPS and monitoring systems. There are also apps that allow you to
silently contact emergency help if you are in adangerous situation

Using Public Wi-Fi

When using public
Wi-Fi make sure it is from a trusted source. Personal information can be
extracted through unsecure, public connections, which can often be fakes.
Through these connections opportunists could monitor the data you send and
receive.

May 20, 2013

Summer
is almost here and most children will be out of school enjoying all types of
summer activities. Some will go to camps, make a trip to visit relatives, or
the entire family will take a trip to a long-planned destination. Whatever the itinerary, we all need to be
diligent to keep ourselves and our children safe and out of harm’s way. Summertime
should be filled with enjoyment, adventure, and relaxation whether it is with
old friends, new friends, or family. In any situation, we must exercise caution
and help children learn how to keep themselves safe.

In
case you need reminders, here are a few tips to help you and your children have
a safe and happy summer.

Summer camps: If your child is going to summer camp, be
sure to check out the organization or business that is running the camp. If it
is not a well-known, national entity, you may want to seek references. The Better
Business Bureau or the state’s attorney’s office may have information about the
organization or business that could be helpful. You want to be sure that the
money you pay for your child’s experience is to a reputable company and that
the services offered will in fact be delivered.

Nearly
every camp hires individuals to help run programs during the summer. Ask how they
screen those that are hired. To what extent are background checks conducted? What
type of training does camp staff undergo prior to children arriving?

In a
sleep-away camp, what safety measures exist to keep campers and staff safe from
intruders or other emergencies?

Traveling: If
visiting relatives or friends away from home, what are the activities that the
child will be engaged in? Are other
children in the area and what are their ages?
One summer, two of my nieces came to visit with me and I enrolled them
in the local community recreation center for their age group. The girls were
thrilled to be able to walk to the center on their own, but they had to take a
specific route that I walked with them. One route would have taken them along
the commuter rail tracks, and I knew I wanted them to avoid any temptation or
opportunity for doing something their curious minds might lead them to. So when they followed the other route to the
center, I knew they had a much better chance of staying out of harm’s way.

Internet: Talk
with your child about Internet activity. If there are limitations at home, those
same limitations should be observed when visiting someone else’s home or at
camp. Kids who bully and Internet
predators do not take a holiday.

Outings: Wherever
kids go they should always use a buddy system.
Each one looks after the other. Most
kids love going to the amusement park or to concerts during the summer. Talk with the children about staying together.
Discuss what they should do if they become separated. They should plan a place to meet as soon as
they arrive. For instance, even as an adult, when I go with friends to a
crowded event, we pinpoint a spot where we will meet if we get separated, such
as, go back to the last place where we were together or meet at the Security or
Information Booth. Re-connecting with
lost buddies might be easier for those with cell phones.

When
I was growing up, we didn’t have the convenience of cell phones, but we did
have each other to look after. My brothers and I, along with the other kids in
the neighborhood, spent each and every day outside (after our chores were done,
of course) and at the local park. We all had strict rules about where we could
or could not go, and parents acted collectively in monitoring the safety of all
the children in our neighborhood. We never strayed very far from our
neighborhood and we always stayed together. The only time there was injury was
running bases in softball or spraining a knuckle in tetherball. The only
“crime” was our own sports injuries.

April 11, 2013

Youth violence in the United States is something that
cannot be ignored. From gang violence to
school shootings to bullying in schools, there is no wonder youth violence is
such a hot topic. The
CDC
(Centers for Disease Control) conducted a survey on youth violence in 2011 and
found that 5 percent of high school students had brought a weapon to school in
the 30 days prior to the survey. In the same survey it was found that 33
percent of high school students had been in a physical fight in the 12 months
before the survey. In the 2011 National
Gang Threat Assessment,
the FBI states that juvenile gangs are increasing and that gangs target youth because of their vulnerability and
susceptibility to recruitment tactics. Even though the problem is
apparent, not everyone knows what he or she can do to help stop the violence.
One way that everyone can help out and make a difference is by becoming
involved through community service and volunteering.

A few months ago, President Obama called for a
National Day of Service. In response, thousands of Americans helped out and
volunteered in their communities. Community service has become an important
part of our country. Many people are aware of national volunteering
opportunities such as the American
Red Cross, Neighborhood
Watch, Big
Brothers Big Sisters, and the United Way.
In these programs, you can be active in your community and mentor at-risk youth
to guide them in a positive way. Even though these national agencies receive
the most publicity, there are many other ways to volunteer and become involved
in your community, to make a contribution to the community’s school, your city,
and your country.

Getting involved can be easy. When I was younger, I
volunteered with my local animal shelter. I love animals so this was the
perfect opportunity for me; I had fun and I was helping out. There are so many
different volunteer opportunities available; the hard part is knowing where to
look for them. A great place to start is the United We Serve website, serve.gov.
This website can help you find existing volunteer opportunities in your area and
help you learn how to start your own service project. Other good places to look
are your local school, library, hospital, retirement home, church, or food
bank. So get up and get involved. You
can start making a difference in your community today.

April 01, 2013

April 1st kicks
off Personal Security Awareness Month (PSAM).
It’s a month designed to raise awareness about personal security options
and deliver valuable knowledge and life-saving advice to men and women across
the globe. Throughout April, SHOLDIT and other personal protection experts, law
enforcement professionals, and companies will partner up to spread the word of
PSAM’s mission and inform the public on ways to stay safe. SHOLDIT will also donate ten percent of its
online profits in the month of April to the National
Crime Prevention Council as a way to help the organization further its efforts
to keep people, themselves, and their families safe from crime.

The need for Personal Security Awareness Month was created because we want to
raise awareness about the fact that crime rates across the globe are on the
rise and there is a strong need for people to be more aware. Yes, there are
already sources and experts out there, but PSAM’s purpose is to be the watchdog
that delivers valuable information on trends, cases, and expert resources to
allow the people to stay informed and make their own educated decisions on
steps for prevention.

Q. Tell
us about the launch Event on April 1st:

This free event will
offer valuable knowledge and experience on topics ranging from parking lot
security and survival mindset to vehicle safety and beyond. A wide range of security experts will teach
you how to be safe and aware on April 1, 2013, at the Bellevue University
Campus in Sarpy County, NE, from 4:30pm to 6:45pm. The event will feature top
ranking police officers, security experts from Sarpy and Cass county Sheriffs,
Clark International, Leonum Advisors, Palladin Consulting Group, Jones
Automotive, Civil Dispatch, and others. Valuable
Information from the event, including videos, will be available online shortly
after the event.

Q. What
are you doing nationally?

SHOLDIT is doing a
national push to bring awareness to Personal Security Awareness Month. Our efforts have already been featured in a
wide range of national press outlets. We want to reach people to remind them to
stay aware of the dangers, how to try to outthink the criminals, and stay out
of reach of their quick and clever tactics.

Q. Are
you going to do this every year?

Yes, we plan to continue to grow
the event next year and hope to make PSAM a nationally (and internationally)
recognized month each April. We need people
to get involved and spread the word! We also are looking for emerging trends,
new techniques to keep the public safe, and people who are willing to share their
own personal stories in an effort to help others avoid the same kind of
victimization.

Q. What
do you hope to accomplish?

It all comes down to saving lives
and or saving people from becoming victims.
By hosting PSAM annually, our goal is to refresh the tips they already
know and also to share new trends that con artists are using and how each of us
can prevent victimization by being ahead of their game.

Editor’s Note: The
National Crime Prevention Council sends a special thanks to SHOLDIT and Ms.
Angela Lee, founder, for contributing to NCPC’s continued efforts to “Take A
Bite Out Of Crime®.”

March 04, 2013

Texting while driving is a
detrimental epidemic in the United States; it’s dangerous and has serious
consequences. Statistics show that in 2011 at least 23 percent of auto
collisions involved cell phones. That’s more than one million accidents! Texting
makes a crash 23 times more likely to occur.

Texting while driving includes
the acts of composing, sending, or reading a text message or email, or doing
anything else on a cellular device while driving a vehicle. The minimum amount
of time your eyes are diverted from the road because of texting is five
seconds; if you’re driving 55 mph that equals driving the entire length of a
football field without looking at the road. Think of how many obstacles there are
for the 100 yards of a football field… can you imagine how many there would be
on the road?

Although dangerous, it is not
uncommon among teenage drivers or adults to text while driving. Seventy-seven
percent of young adults are confident that they can safely drive a vehicle
while texting. The percentage is so high because 48 percent of kids ages 12-17
have been in a vehicle while the driver was texting. If kids grow up seeing adults,
parents, or caregivers texting and using their cellphones while operating motor
vehicles, the kids are going to think it is acceptable.

Place your phone in the backseat or the trunk if
you are tempted to use it

No matter what the scenario is, a
text message can wait until your vehicle is in park and the car is turned off. If you feel that it is urgent, pull your car
over to the side of the road or a parking lot to respond to a text message you
receive while driving. The satisfaction of responding to a text message while driving
a vehicle is not worth the consequences: receiving a ticket; causing an
accident; or even worse, fatal injury to you, your friends, or innocent
bystanders.

Visit www.ncpc.org to learn
more about wireless safety and for resources to help your family or community
address other safety issues.

February 14, 2013

Like most holidays, Valentine’s Day has extended to the web. With the click of a button, you can deliver
flowers and candy, make reservations at a romantic restaurant, or search for
that special someone through an online dating service.

The Internet today has become an invaluable resource in both our personal
and professional lives. However, as technology advances, so do the
techniques cybercriminals use to gain access to our computer networks and
personal information. If each of us becomes more aware of cybersecurity risks
and implements a few simple steps, we can all make a big difference.

Be
careful supplying personal information - Unless you trust a site, don't give your address, passwords, or
financial information. Look for indications that the site uses SSL to encrypt
your information (such as the ‘s’ in ‘https’).

Limit
cookies - To make sure that other sites are not collecting personal information
about you without your knowledge, choose to only allow cookies for the web site
you are visiting and block or limit cookies from a third-party. If you are
using a public computer, you should make sure that cookies are disabled.

Do
not use your primary email address in online submissions - Submitting your email address could
result in spam. If you do not want your primary email account flooded with unwanted
messages, consider opening an additional email account for use online.

Avoid
using debit cards for online purchases - Credit cards usually offer some protection against identity theft and
may limit the monetary amount you will be responsible for paying.

Devote
one credit card to online purchases - Consider opening a credit card account for use only online. Keep a
minimum credit line on the account to limit the amount of charges an attacker
can accumulate.

Cybersecurity
is a shared responsibility and we are all called on to ACT or Achieve
Cybersecurity Together. For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.